August 21, 2015

Young Communists mobilize for Federal elections

The Young Communist League of Canada (YCL) has started
hitting the pavement for the upcoming Federal elections. Preparations started
in the spring of this year at the YCL’s Central Committee meeting, which
outlined the political context of this election: “The future for youth under
the current system looks dismal: unemployment, underemployment, debt,
environmental destruction, war and militarism, and an eroding democracy.” While
this paints a bleak picture, the YCL’s message is that it is possible to
reverse the situation through struggle, and that the Federal election “marks an
important opportunity for the YCL-LJC in their struggle for peace, jobs, the
environment and democracy, as well as the broader struggle for socialism.”

The YCL identified the Harper Conservatives as the preferred
political choice of the corporate agenda, as the party that is the most
pro-war, anti-labour, anti-environment and anti-equality and democratic rights.
However, the YCL also identified that a “narrow electoral approach” focusing on
a strategy of “lesser-evilism” is not a strategy that can defeat the Harper
agenda. This is especially important in the context of this election where all
the parties in parliament refuse to come out against the interests of Big
Business on important issues such as an expansion of the Tar Sands and support for
the liberation of Palestine. They have failed to express clear opposition to
imperialist war and “free trade” agreements.

“It is up to young people themselves to organize and hit the
streets during this election and after, in order to fight for a real future for
our generation. Together we can put forward demands such as closing the Tar
Sands, an end to Canada’s involvement in wars, jobs for youth, and an end to
poverty and student debt,” said Drew Garvie, the General Secretary of the YCL.

The YCL is supporting
the Communist Party of Canada’s Federal election campaign, which will see
Communist candidates run in around two-dozen ridings in order to advance a
“People’s Alternative” platform. The full platform is available at
www.Communist-Party.ca/plaform

“Several candidates of the Communist Party of Canada are
also members of the YCL and will be out fighting for pro-youth policies. This
includes creating youth jobs through massive investment in value-added
manufacturing, affordable housing, social services, arts and culture as well as
public green jobs, raising wages including a $20/hr minimum living wage,
significantly increase funding and access to training and apprenticeship
programs, the abolition of student debt and tuition fees, immediately enacting
the decisions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, respecting the
sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous peoples and Quebec, putting
energy and natural resources under public democratic control, phasing out the
Tar Sands with jobs guaranteed at comparable wages, as well as lowering the
voting age to 16.” said Garvie.

In the spring, the YCL’s Central Committee lent its full
support to the Communist Party’s campaign and pledged to start mobilizing: “The
Communist Party’s platform reflects an agenda that would put people’s needs
before corporate greed and demonstrates that another Canada is possible. It also
places the question of socialism on the table, in order to provide a clear
long-term vision of what will be necessary to replace capitalism. Only
socialism can get rid of exploitation and replace it with a system based on
full democracy, human equality and environmental sustainability, in which the
resources and economic wealth are owned and controlled by working people, not
by corporate bosses. Voting Communist sends the clearest possible message that
fundamental change is possible and necessary.”

Rebel Youth will be following the elections
closely. Stay tuned for much more!